bookmark
UK[ˈbʊkmɑːk]US[ˈbʊkmɑːrk]
n
a strip of leather, card, or other material, used to mark one's place in a book.
n
a record of the address of a website, file, or other data, enabling a user to return to it quickly.
v
record the address of (a website, file, etc.) to enable quick access in future.
Morpheme Breakdown
book
mark
book
book
mark
mark
Etymology
the word 'bookmark' is a transparent compound formed from two native english words of germanic origin. 'book' derives from proto-germanic bōks, related to the beech tree on which runes were carved, while 'mark' stems from proto-germanic markō, denoting a boundary or sign. the literal combination, meaning a physical marker for a page in a book, dates to the mid-19th century. its semantic logic was directly extended in the late 20th century with the advent of digital technology, where it now also signifies a saved reference point within a browser or digital document, maintaining the core concept of marking a specific location for easy return.
Analysis
Structure: book (book) + mark (mark)
- book: old english 'bōc', meaning 'book, writing, document'. functions as the base noun.
- mark: old english 'mearc', meaning 'boundary, sign'. functions as the base noun/verb.
Examples
she used a beautiful silk ribbon as a bookmark in her novel.
don't forget to bookmark the online recipe so you can find it later.
the browser allows you to organize your bookmarks into folders.